Lexical Summary peras: End, limit, boundary Original Word: πέρας Strong's Exhaustive Concordance end, limitFrom the same as peran; an extremity -- end, ut-(ter-)most participle see GREEK peran NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originakin to peirar (end, limit) Definition a limit NASB Translation end (1), ends (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4009: πέραςπέρας, πέρατος, τό (πέρα beyond), from Aeschylus down, extremity, bound, end (see τέλος, 1 a. at the beginning); a. of a portion of space ("boundary, frontier): πέρατα τῆς γῆς (the ends of the earth), equivalent to the remotest lands, Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31 (Homer, Iliad 8, 478 (πεῖραρ); Thucydides 1, 69; Xenophon, Ages. 9, 4; the Sept. for אֶרֶץ אַפְסֵי (Winer's Grammar, 30)); also τῆς οἰκουμένης, Romans 10:18 (Psalm 71:8 b. of a thing extending through a period of time (termination): ἀντιλογίας, Hebrews 6:16 (τῶν κακῶν, Aeschylus Pers. 632; Josephus, b. j. 7, 5, 6, and other examples in other writings). πέρας denotes the farthest limit, boundary, or extremity, whether spatial, temporal, or rhetorical. In Scripture it can describe (1) the remotest regions of the inhabited world and (2) the decisive conclusion of a matter. These two nuances converge to emphasize both the universal reach of God’s salvific purpose and the finality of His sworn word. Old Testament and Jewish Background The Septuagint frequently employs cognates of πέρας to render Hebrew terms for “ends” (קָצֶה, תַּכְלִית). In Psalms and Isaiah the phrase “ends of the earth” becomes a literary marker for the nations awaiting Israel’s Messiah (Psalm 22:27; Isaiah 45:22). Second-Temple literature retains the expression to describe the spread of wisdom and judgment to distant peoples (Wisdom of Solomon 10:19; Sirach 24:31). This linguistic heritage sets the stage for the New Testament writers. Key New Testament Occurrences 1. Hebrews 6:16—The End of All Dispute “Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.” Here πέρας functions temporally and logically: God’s oath is presented as the ultimate terminus of debate. The author urges believers to rest in the unchangeable character of God’s promise, anchoring their hope “as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). The word therefore underlines the irrevocable certainty of covenantal assurance. 2. Romans 10:18—Universal Proclamation “But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed: ‘Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.’” Paul cites Psalm 19:4 (LXX) and chooses πέρατα to stress that the witness of the gospel, like the testimony of the heavens, reaches the most distant frontiers. In context, this supports the apostle’s contention that Israel has had ample opportunity to respond to God’s revelation, heightening the responsibility of all peoples before the universal summons of the gospel. 3. Matthew 12:42 and Luke 11:31—Gentile Testimony from the Ends “The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now something greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:42; cf. Luke 11:31) Jesus invokes the Queen of Sheba as an eschatological witness. Her pilgrimage from the “ends” magnifies Israel’s culpability for rejecting the incarnate Wisdom who stands among them. The term underscores the global magnetism of divine wisdom in Christ and foreshadows the incorporation of Gentiles into the kingdom. Theological Themes • Certainty and Finality: Hebrews uses πέρας to portray the conclusive weight of God’s oath, reinforcing the doctrine of the immutability of God’s promises. Historical and Missional Significance Early Christian writers, echoing Paul, cited Psalm 19 to validate missionary endeavors toward the fringes of the empire. Patristic homilies (e.g., Chrysostom on Romans) argue that the church’s spread to the “ends” fulfills prophecy and verifies the gospel’s divine origin. Medieval and Reformation missionaries likewise appealed to these texts to justify overseas evangelism, seeing geographical expansion as obedience to the Lord’s eschatological design. Practical Ministry Application 1. Preaching: Use Hebrews 6:16 to assure believers of the unbreakable nature of God’s covenant promises. Conclusion Whether describing the conclusive force of an oath or the farthest reaches of the world, πέρας in the New Testament spotlights the decisive, boundary-breaking character of God’s redemptive work. The term invites believers to rest in the certainty of His promises and to labor until the gospel is proclaimed to every “end” of the earth. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 12:42 N-GNPGRK: ἐκ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς NAS: she came from the ends of the earth KJV: from the uttermost parts of the earth INT: from the ends of the earth Luke 11:31 N-GNP Romans 10:18 N-ANP Hebrews 6:16 N-NNS Strong's Greek 4009 |
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